Chapter Eight: A Change of Plans
Cipher used her implant to tap into Nem'ro's security feed. Karrels Javis was in his office. She then walked through the cantina to the staff area. By this point, she had been seen with Karrels often enough to go unchallenged.
As she entered his office, she heard him snoring. She considered killing him in his sleep. It would be kind; he would never know what had happened. But it didn't seem appropriate. Given the choice, she felt certain that he would want to face his end.
She pulled her blaster, then woke him.
"What?" He was foggy, and it took a moment for him to focus on her. "Blade?"
Then he noticed the gun, and the sleep faded.
"I'm sorry, Karrels." She dropped the Corellian accent, allowing her crisp and precise Imperial speech patterns to come through. "You deserve better than this."
Usually, people who knew they were about to die reacted with fear or anger, pleas or threats. He did neither, taking her in calmly.
"You're not The Red Blade," he said.
"No. I am Cipher Nine, with Imperial Intelligence. My mission is to steer Nem'ro's sympathies toward the Empire."
"Then why kill me?"
"Remember when you told me your sons were in Imperial space?" she asked. "I told you they should be fine, as long as they were careful of the Sith?"
He became very still.
"Your sons had a run-in with a Sith," she said. "I don't know exactly what happened. Maybe they weren't respectful enough. Maybe they were too respectful, and he became annoyed. Maybe he was just in a bad mood."
"My sons are dead." His voice was heavy.
"One of them survived," she said. "He was injured, but he's being transported back here. Even so, it's clear that any sympathies you may have had for us…" She trailed off.
"Why tell me this?" he asked. "I was asleep. You could have just shot me."
She forced a smile. "I thought you would want to know why. I am sorry, Karrels."
His face flushed. "That's Mr. Javis," he gritted. "And to hell with you."
"Fair enough."
She fired. Surprise flickered in his eyes. Then he fell.
She put away the blaster, then inserted the spike into the security system and let it run. Scrubbing the security recordings, deleting every trace of her.
The mission was done. She cast a last, regretful look at Karrels Javis's corpse, then turned to leave.
Kaliyo Djannis stood in the doorway, blaster drawn and leveled at her chest.
"I knew you were trouble," she said.
Speaking was a mistake. The words took an ounce of Kaliyo's concentration - just enough for Cipher to lash out with a kick. The blaster went flying across the room.
Cipher drew her blade. Kaliyo grinned, drawing one of her own. "Let's dance," the Rattataki said, making a beckoning motion.
Cipher lunged. Kaliyo pivoted in time, but not without getting a cut on her forearm.
Cipher's wrist transmitter activated. Keeper's voice came through.
"Hold, both of you." He spoke with such absolute authority, even Kaliyo stopped. "Violence may not be necessary."
Reluctantly, Cipher lowered her weapon long enough to activate the holo device. Keeper's image filled the room.
Kaliyo raised one bare eyebrow. "What's this, now?"
"We know who you are, Kaliyo Djannis. Imperial Intelligence has followed your activities for some time"
Kaliyo folded her arms. "But you were never able to catch me."
"Do not flatter yourself," Keeper told her. "You live because you were never a target. Even when you worked with anarchist groups on Rattatak and Brental Four, it was clear you had skills that could one day be of use to us."
"Are you offering me a job?" The incredulity in Kaliyo's voice matched Cipher's own reaction.
"Precisely," Keeper said. "Agree, and you will became a well-paid servant of the Empire."
"Killing her would be easier," Cipher said. "I could leave the blaster on her, make it look like she killed Karrels. No loose ends."
Kaliyo went back into a defensive stance. "You could try," she snapped.
"Stop!" Keeper snapped.
Both women turned back to him.
"This operation is over," he told Cipher. "Nem'ro's men will analyze the spike, and will conclude that Fa'athra turned to the Republic after his setbacks of the past 24 hours. Kaliyo, you will be the obvious suspect, leaving Hutta with a large transfer of credits at the same time Karrels is found dead. You may find yourself targeted by the Hutts in the future."
Kaliyo scoffed. "The Hutts don't scare me."
"With Nem'ro fearing Repubic support for Fa'athra, he will turn to the Empire," Keeper continued. "In all likelihood, Fa'athra will then actually turn to the Republic. We should be able to maintain an effective quagmire, with Nem'ro on top – but never so much on top that he stops needing us. A perfect result."
He took in the two of them, his gaze severe.
"The two of you are to report to Dromund Kaas. I expect both of you to be alive and uninjured when you arrive. Is that clear?"
With a glare at Kaliyo, Cipher agreed.
"Then I suggest you leave separately, but immediately. Rendezvous at the spaceport, and travel together – together, mind you – to Dromund Kaas. Now, go. Before any of Nem'ro's people come in and make things messy. Keeper out."
At Jiguuna Spaceport, Cipher ran into one more unwelcome surprise. She picked up the passes that would allow her and Kaliyo transport to Dromund Kaas. Passes under the name "The Red Blade."
As she turned into the hangar, she was intercepted by a figure in full body armor, flanked by two rough-looking men. Pirates, obviously.
"So, you're the pretender calling herself 'The Red Blade.' " A male voice, dripping with scorn.
Out of the corner of her eye, she checked what Kaliyo was doing. Would she run? Join the pirates in ambushing her?
Kaliyo was tensing for a fight, easing a hand toward her blaster. Apparently, Keeper's offer was good enough to have bought her loyalty, at least for the moment.
"I am The Red Blade," Cipher replied, matching the man's scorn with her own. "I earned my name."
The man was taken aback, as she had hoped. An extra couple of seconds purchased.
"I'm The Red Blade!" he shouted, indignant. "The real one!"
Touchy, Cipher reflected. Maybe she could push him even further off-balance.
"Prove you're The Red Blade," she challenged him.
He stared at her, astonished. One more second. Cipher reached for her belt.
Before either she or Kaliyo had a chance to draw their weapons, three shots rang out. The Red Blade and his men fell dead at their feet.
Zarek Voss and Mako emerged from the hangar entrance, both holding blasters.
Zarek looked mournfully at the Blade's body. "1.2 million credits, eh?" Mako nodded confirmation. "And no time to collect. What a waste."
Cipher was astonished.
"I was so late, I'd have thought you'd go without me," she said.
Zarek shrugged. "We said we'd meet at the spaceport. I like to keep my word. Besides, Mako heard some chatter that the real Red Blade was coming to Hutta. I figured things might get complicated." He glanced at Kaliyo. "Interesting company you're keeping."
Cipher laughed. "You don't know the half of it."
She dropped the Corellian accent. It had never fooled him anyway, and it was a relief to speak in her own voice.
She extended a hand. "Cipher Nine, Imperial Intelligence," she said, officially introducing herself.
He nodded, digesting the information with no sign of surprise.
"Well," he said. "Looks like we'll be sharing a transport to Dromund Kaas. We might just have a few things to talk about."